🚀 go-pugleaf

>I'm not sure about C++ primarily because I think it is a poor choice
>for a first language-- not, I might add, because of OO-- but because
>its large numbers of functions, notations, symbols, etc. can be rather
>daunting for the uninitiated. Object Pascal would be easier to teach

I would add to that the main problem with learning C++ as a first
language is that it is based solely upon C.  That is, if you can't
handle the pointers beneath your creation, you will inevitably be
called upon to do so.

>except for its relative unavailability. I think that the idea is that
>students enrolling in the AP class would already have some sort of
>programming experience from either an earlier class or home hacking.

On the other hand, Object Pascal (I have only seen Delphi) is also
a bit of a mask.  Not that I advocate hard-core dig in the dirt 
programming as a first choice, but Object Oriented anything seems
to obscure the details - details that will some day be required.

In my intro to CS class at the University of Colorado last spring, we
had people who did not know how to type.  We had people who literally
typed out every line of what should have been a loop.  There is some
basic understanding that needs to be taught at some point.

>including the high school teachers, will be interested in learning C++
>as long as they have sufficient time and pay to do so.

I will reserve judgement on my high school programming experience;
suffice it to say that receiving an 'A' in the class guaranteed
only a modicom of programming experience.

PC
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
   Paul Covell | covell@Colorado.EDU
   "When will the world listen to reason?  I have
     a feeling it'll be a long time." -The Offspring
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_